The Almhouses

COWESBY MAIN STREET SE 4689 (EAST SIDE, OFF) 9/17 THE ALMSHOUSES 1.5.52 GV II Row of 4 almshouses, now one dwelling. Late C17 for Nathaniel, Lord Crewe, Bishop of Durham; coverted c1980. Tooled coursed squared stone, pantile roof. Single-storey with attic, 4 cells. Plinth. Two sets of paired chamfered quoined doorways with triangular soffits to lintels flanked by 2-tight recessed chamfered mullion windows. Ashlar coping on shaped kneelers with ball finials. Rebuilt end and central ridge stacks. Rear: a single-tight recessed chamfered window to each cell, the 2nd from right enlarged to a 2-light window; inserted central door and skylights. Each return has two recessed chamfered tights to gables. Interior: chamfered and stop-chamfered spine beams. End fireplaces with adjacent stone spiral staircases survive, that at right end plastered over, that at left end with chamfered surround and massive 2-piece lintel. Attic: large-scantling purlins. The attics of the central almshouses were formerly lit by dormers and the stacks were corniced (pre-conversion photo held by owner). The roof originally had coupled common rafters with occasional collars (WYCVBSG Report). The building has been dated dendrochronologically to 1680+ 9 years (ibid). - W. Grainge, The Vale of Mowbray: a historical and topographical account of Thirsk and its Neighbourhood (1859). North Yorkshire and Cleveland Vernacular Buildings Study Group, Report No. 685.

Listing NGR: SE4661389843